15 Must-Try Italian Restaurants in Newcastle

Zucchini Pasta Bar, 55 Degrees North, Pilgrim Street

As its name suggests, Zucchini (pictured above) is all about the pasta. Proudly independent, its hand-rolled pasta is made fresh every day resulting in tempting dishes it dubs "Italian soul food" - pappardelle with beef shin and pork shoulder ragu and fettuccine with Scottish crab, fennel, basil, chilli and lemon olive oil. And, of you'd like to try your hand at making your own pasta, Zucchini even offers pasta masterclasses!

Pani’s Café, High Bridge

Pani’s has been focussing on fine Sardinian food for nearly thirty years, with an emphasis on the finest ingredients (either imported from the homeland or sourced locally). The informal café offers all sorts of Sardinian specialities you won’t see on most menus – from culurgiones fritti (fried pasta parcels, filled with pecorino, mint garlic and potato) to spigola (seabass fillets pan-fried, seasoned with polenta in a rich seafood sauce). With a very tempting dessert menu, a strong wine list and plenty of cocktails, Pani’s really is something special.

Babucho, Lower Dean Street

Babucho is as much a bar and lounge club as it is a restaurant – it opens till late, and is rightly proud of its cocktails and drinks menu. But the dining element is in no way neglected: a strong list of typically New York Italian dishes are joined on the menu by steaks, skewers and classics dishes like crispy confit duck leg and slow-cooked beef. There are vegan, vegetarian and Sunday roast menus too.

Marco Polo, Dean Street

Marco Polo has been serving Newcastle delicious Italian food for over 50 years, so you know you're in for a great meal with a visit to this Dean Street hotspot. Italian classics with a contemporary twist is what they do best so expect dishes like rigatoni salsiccia (with Italian fennel sausage, cream, parmesan, wild mushrooms and truffle oil) and chargrilled lamb cutlets served with Mediterranean vegetables, Lyonnaise potatoes, toasted pine nuts and salsa verde.

Bella Italia, Grey's Quarter, Eldon Square

Bella Italia is one of the UK’s most successful chains, with dozens of locations UK-wide. A visit to the Eldon Square branch will show you why – Bella Italia offers a long and reliably tasty selection of pasta and pizza dishes as well as sides, salads and burgers. There’s a strong selection of desserts and drinks, and plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options too.

Zizzi, Grey Street

Another chain, but on a much larger scale (more than 130 branches across the UK and Ireland), Zizzi prides itself on adding new twists to a standard Italian menu, so you’ll find signature Zizzi dishes like its harissa roasted pollo calabrese and butter bean stufato among the more usual dishes. And that's alongside a robust range of gluten-free pizza and pasta options too.

Prima – Side

Prima has been flying the red, green and white flag for great Italian food for around twenty years and its large (300 cover!) location on the Side is a local favourite. The main menu is augmented by bottomless brunch and even a Sunday lunch menu, so whether you want a hearty pasta dish or a full Sunday roast with beef brisket or seabass fillet, Prima has you covered.

Gino D’Acampo Restaurant Quayside, River View, Quayside

One of the most impressively located and decorated restaurants in the city, the food at Gino D’Acampo Restaurant Quayside more than lives up to the setting. There are several menus, often seasonal in nature, with vegans/vegetarians and the gluten intolerant well catered for (and there’s a kids menu too). The wine and cocktail lists are carefully curated and all in all, Gino’s offers some really fine dining in really fine surroundings.

Portofino, Mosely Street

Portofino has been part of Newcastle’s restaurant scene for more than forty years and the last 22 of those were spent in a grand Victorian building on Mosely Street. The lengthy and tempting menu covers all your traditional Italian favourites plus a few surprises – the Polpette al Purgatorio and Cartoccio di Pesce both look delicious. There’s a Sunday lunch and vegan menu, plus a bargain-busting Happy Hour menu too.

Uno’s, Sandhill

Another popular trattoria in the shadow of the Tyne Bridge, Uno’s has been in business for almost 35 years. The Uno’s menu is packed with Italian favourites – plenty of pasta and pizza dishes, risottos and fish and meat from the grill and they do a pretty tempting Happy Hour deal too that's perfect for filling hungry bellies without breaking the bank.

Lui’s, King Street

Another Quayside Italian favourite is Lui's, situated just a stone's throw from the River Tyne. You'll be whisked away to warmer Italian climes with dishes like beetroot carpaccio, spaghetti scoglio and chicken valdostana. There's a tempting bottomless brunch deal alongside an amazing wine list and range of cocktails too.

Sambuca, Sandhill

Sambuca’s is a fast-growing North-Eastern chain of Italian restaurants with new branches opening all the time. Like the rest of the outlets, the Quayside branch keeps things simple and traditional with a menu that has a solid list of pizza, pasta, risotto and steak offerings and all the starters, sides and desserts you’d expect.

Harry's, Grey Street

Located on one of Newcastle's most iconic streets, is a venue some may not have realised as one of our city's Italian hot-spots. Serving up a classic Italian-American menu to suit all diners, Harry's offer a range of menus for any occasion. Whether you're treating the other half to a date night, looking for a pre-theatre dinner or even in the mood for a Sunday roast, they've got you covered. To top it all off, their expert team have an extensive drinks menu to pair with your favourite dish.

ASK Italian, Grey's Quarter, Eldon Square

Located in the heart of Eldon Square, ASK Italian is perfect for a post-shopping pick me up with a menu brimming with hearty pasta dishes, hand-stretched pizzas and decadent desserts you'll definitely want to save room for. With classic starters like calamari, mouthwatering mains including burrata and pancetta carbonara and sweet treats like tiramisu, what have you got to lose?

Pinocchio, Westgate Road

From its charming interior to its comforting traditional menu, Pinocchio radiates a homely warmth. This is reflected in the food – a menu simply bursting with traditional flavours, from a lengthy antipasti selection to plenty of pizzas, pastas, risottos, chicken and steak dishes and tasty sides. And if you don’t want to sit in, they offer takeaway and delivery too.

There are dozens of Italian restaurants in and around Newcastle city centre, all offering their own takes on one of the most vibrant and tasty cuisines around. So whether you want something purely traditional and comforting, or modern twists on old favourites, there’s bound to be an Italian restaurant just right for your tastes and your wallet.

Main image: Zucchini Pasta Bar